Before Edward Bluemel made a splash as the spunky romantic lead Guildford Dudley in Amazon Prime Video’sMy Lady Jane,he starred as vampire turned Oxford lab research assistant Marcus Whitmore in the Sky One Supernatural DramaA Discovery of Witches– creating a surprising connection between the shows and making them ideal companion pieces. While very different projects, Edward Bluemel’s roles in both shows feel linked through his characters' secrecy and inner conflict.
SinceMy Lady Janewas canceled by Prime Video, fans of the show are rallying behind a petition to save the Tudor dramedy from cancelation. In the meantime, Bluemel’s previous work inA Discovery of Witchesis finding a new audience after its arrival on Netflix.The show is the perfect post-My Lady Janewatch, as it offers a more dramatic look at a fantasy-history storyline with a dash of star-crossed lovers.
My Lady Jane’s Edward Bluemel Starred In A Discovery Of Witches
Both Marcus Whitmore And Guildford Dudley Have Secrets to Keep
InMy Lady Jane,Bluemel’s Guildford Dudley is a mysterious nobleman who is known for his rakish waysof partying at taverns all night and sleeping all day. In reality, his secret is that he is an Ethian, a person who can transform into an animal at will (in his case, a horse) and is unable to control his powers due to his trauma, thus he remains in horse form all day.
This is kept secret because, inMy Lady Jane’sfictionalized English Reformation,Ethians are a marginalized peoplewho are prohibited from marrying humans or maintaining roles in the nobility, both of which Guildford has done. Despite the secrecy, he remains entirely transparent with his wife, Jane Grey.
Similarly, inA Discovery of Witches,Bluemel portrays a doctor and genetic research assistant at Oxford by day and a vampire who is hundreds of years old by night. He works to help with medical research for humans and the supernatural, but maintains his cover in order to conduct genetic research on the variety of species within the supernatural world and work to protect their legacy. He is loyal to his Oxford coworkers and goes to great lengths to assist Matthew de Clermont (played by Matthew Goode), who sired him as a vampire. Both of these Bluemelcharacters juxtapose secrecy and brutal honesty exceptionally well.
How A Discovery Of Witches Compares To My Lady Jane
Both Feature The Tudor Era Of British History With Fantasy Elements
BothMy Lady JaneandA Discovery of Witchesfeature fictionalized takes on Tudor-era history, and supernatural beings that live double lives.A Discovery of Witchespicks up in 2018, and features flashbacks to a variety of different time periods, as all the show’s vampires were sired in different eras. Notably,the show’s second season takes place in Tudor Londonas main characters Diana Bishop (played by Teresa Palmer) and Matthew de Clermont time-walk back there for answers about their lineage and a frightening prophecy.
The True Story Behind My Lady Jane (& The Amazon Show’s Startling Changes To History)
Amazon’s My Lady Jane takes a modern twist on a historical tale. Here’s what really happened to Lady Jane Grey and what the show changed.
Both shows feature stunning period costumes, sweeping cinematography showcasing historical European sites, anda fated yet doomed love story between central characters.The biggest difference between the shows lies in tone, asMy Lady Janeblends comedy and drama, whileA Discovery of Witchesmaintains a darker dramatic tone throughout.My Lady Janehas its own moments of despair, notably the near beheading of Jane Grey and the burning of Guildford Dudley. However, Bluemel’s characters both offer witty line deliveries to cut the tension.
Why You Should Watch A Discovery Of Witches If You Liked My Lady Jane
If Viewers Like Alternate History and Familiar Faces, This Is The Perfect Watch
For history buffs, both shows showcase pivotal moments in world history with fantasy and supernatural elements. Added to this already complex storytelling, there are also romances at the heart ofMy Lady JaneandA Discovery of Witches. The latter is the spooky cousin ofMy Lady Janeand a great watch for the fall television season.
Both offer a campy look at brutal moments over the course of history, challenging perspectives on these respective events.
As fans continue to campaign to renewMy Lady Jane,viewers can enjoy another strong performance from Bluemel inA Discovery of Wtiches.The former has a 95% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the latter has an 87% critics' score, making both shows worth watching based on critical acclaim alone. Edward Bluemel is a dynamic actor who manages to deliver emotionally moving yet endearing and raw performances through his characters layered with boyish charm, and viewers ofMy Lady Janewill not be disappointed byA Discovery of Witches.
